Interchangeable demountable wheel



June 25, 1929. E. KQBAKER, 1,718,916 INTERCHANGEABLE DEMQUWABLEA WHEELoriginalmild July 2. 1921 z sneetsfsneet 1 m51 B Y MOM .1 A TTORNE YJune 25, 1929.

E. K. BAKER INTERCHANGEABLE DEMOUNT'ABLE WHEEL original med July 2. 1921meets-sheet 2 /NVENTQ/e B y /d f/ A TTORNE y M l I I I I I I I I l l l In lll lll 'lli

Patentedy June 25,.-1929. p

UNiTED 'STATES PATENT orrics.

'ERLE KING BAKER, 0F GHIGAG, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN'OR TO BAKER WHEEL t RIMCOM'- IANY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

:mtrnnciriinsniinnn :onmouirriiiann WHEEL.

@riginal application filed July 2, 1921, Serial No. 482,098. Divided andthis 2, 192s.V seriai No. 316,650.

This application is a division oi my copeiiding application SerialNumber 482,098; iiled July 2, 1921, entitled Interchangeable demountablewheels.

My invention relates to improvements in motor vehicle wheels, and itsobjects is greatly to improve the relation between thel hubs and'wheelsof a motor vehicle and permit an entirely satisfactory-interchange otany wheel, for another of the same or a diiferent t pe.

yMy novel hubs are made of metal a'nd are chiefly characterized `by i aconstruction which gives the same size tol all hubs and wheels of thevehicle; which permits the wheels to be' placed on the hubs and removedtherefrom with the greatest ease; and, assists in attaching the wheelsto the hubs in a manner that definitely prevents looseness between theparts, thereby obviating the rapid wear which has objeotionablydistinguished other so-called demountable wheels.-

The novel wheels of my invention likewise treated as belonging to agiven vehicle, are characterized by a common hub hole size; by ahubebarrel bearing of such limited extent as to permit the easydisengagement ci the wheel; and by a non-metallic hub flange engagingportion which is slightly compres' sible for the purpose ofautomatically lool(- ing the hub bolts and which ensures enoughIfriction between the hub ilange and the wheel to prevent slippagebetween them while the wheel is bolted on the hub. This last mentionedfriction grip to prevent slippage'is not claimed in this application asit is claimed in in co-pending application Se rial Number 48 ,098 ofwhich this applica tion is a. division.

` Various other objects and features ol" my invention will appearhereinafter.

Tir structure, my invention is extremely simple -`and will be readilyunderstood on reference to the accompanying drawings in which',- Figs. 1and lAand 2 and?.A disclose my noveliront and rear hubs and fourdiijzterent types of wheels that are interchange able thereon; Fig. 3 isan enlarged view oi' a hub by itself; Fig. Ll is an inner end viewthereof; Fig. is an outer end view oi the same; and Fig. 6 is asectional view through hub and wheel.

@n reference to the various parts ci the drawing, it will be seen thatmy metal hubs application iilecl November Vthe type in most .generaluse; but at the same time my hubs differ from the latter in severalimportant respects. Each hub coinn prises a barrel portion 2, shaped tosuit the spindle or axle and bearings which it is intended to receive.At the rear or inner end of the barrel is an i outstanding hub flangek3. Generally the juncture between the base of the flange 3 and thebarrel 2 is marked by a small fillet 4; Spaced at equal distancesin thehub flange 3 are a plurality of threaded openings 5,intended to receivethe hub bolts by which the'- wheels are ate taehed thereto. Thesethreaded openings are preferably formed in the separately inserted andupset nuts 6 held against turning in the flange. AThese will be founddetailed in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. Preferably the outer end 6 of each nutAprojects beyond the Vface 3 of the back flange 3 so that the severalprojecting nuts may interlock with the wheel. A distinguishingcharacteristic is found in the wheel-centering and supporting portion 2'.of the hub. Every part outward of the portion 2 isof smaller diameterso as not to interfere with the placing and the removal of the wheel.

It should be atv once understood" that Figs. 1, 1A,2 and 2A are viewsshowing but onehalf of a wheel in each instance, `several types beingshown. Thus Fig. 1A v depicts the wheel A of my earlier Patent No.'1,334,011, known as the Baker semi-wood wheel. Fig. 1 is devoted to myimproved wheel B of the metal disk type. Fig. 2A represents a wheel C olthe so-called standard wood type, bearing a demountable rim C and Fig. 2depicts my improved wire wheel D.

Each wheel contains a central 4hub hole oi' a size to closely fit anabbreviated or limited portion oi' the hub which serves to center thewheel on 'the hub.

All of my wheels are distinguished by what may be termed aimetal ormetalized center hub hole. Thus the wooden wheels A and C with their hubcenters C" have hubn ii, 1921. Those are oi such strength/as to preventchange of size in the hub hole oi the wheel, and have relativelyabbreviated.,

` wheels of the types A, B, and C. No hub inated or greatly reduced.4This feature,l

however, is not claimed in this application as it is claimed in theparent application, Serial Number 482,098, supra, of which this is adivision.

The friction disks or rings 8may be loose but better still are attachedto the metal hub centers of their Wheels to prevent loss. I do not findit practical to leave the disks 8 upon the wheel hubs, it being clearthat the disks should accompany the wheels when removed from the hubsand leave the latter free to receive a wheel of the type A or C.

The wheels are attached to the hub by means of a plurality of hub bolts;either long as shown at 9 for a wood wheel; or short, as shown at 10,for a metal Wheel.` Before these bolts `are inserted a ring or outer hubflange 11 is put inplace against the Wheel. Such hub iianges are usedwith flange is required for a wheel of the type -D.

y The heads of the bolts are presented on the outer face ofthe wheel andthe threaded ends of the bolts enter the fixed nuts 6, in the backilangevof the hub.

A distinguishing characteristic of my hub 'bolt 12 is that it isslightly tapered. The hole in the outer removable hub flange 11,-loosely fits the bolt, but the hole in theivooden center of the wheel issmaller so 'that the tapered bolt drives solidly into it. Therefore, notonly the compressibility of the wood but also the en agement between thebolt and the wood, eectually prevents the loosening of the bolt in thefixed hub flange.

My invention is as adaptable to the rear or driving axle 13 (see Fi 6)as it is to the front and can likewise e used where a brlke drum isemployed (see Figs. 2 and 2A Y v To remove eitherof the illustratedwheels from its hub, it is only necessary. to take out the hub bolts,then slightly rock the wheel v011 the abbreviated hub portion. Therebyit is loosened and may be easily taken off the hub. The replacement ofthe wheel on the hub is an equally simple operation.n

In other words it is unnecessary to remove the wheel receiving hub 2from its axle or support. That is to say, the securing devicesstructions it has been necessary to use a wheel puller to reinove thewheel and in doing so the wooden Wheel is likely to be daniaged and ifnot damaged it is likely to bccome loose as there is nothing to hold ittogether. Furthermore, in such change overs it has then been necessaryto pull the permanent hub from the axle or spindle so that the fasteningdevices can be 'removed and new ones suitable for the wire wheelaffixed. Such constructions are not designed, intended or adapted forready interchange from one type of wheel to another and back again,because to restore Athe Wooden wheel (even assuming that it is stillintact) it would be necessary to again disturb the relation lof thepermanent hub and other parts with all the labor and inconvenience whichthat entails. The same remarks apply to suggested changes 'from a woodenVwheel which has been pressed on its h ub to a metal wheel mounted inlike manner.

The complete and ready interchange of the different types of wheelswithout changing or altering the hubs,bearinrs, ete., is a greatadvantage to the automobi e manufacturer; tothe dealer andto the user.greatly 'simplifies manufacture and assem' blies in the factory becauseall of the other parts -can be assembled Without regard to the type ofwheel (as distinguished from the prior practice of providing s ecial hubconstructions for the different w ieels) and then lany desired typemounted on the assembled hub structure.

It is a great advantage to the dealer because he can display anautomobile with one type of wheel and if a customer wants delivery withwheels of another type, he can immediately (and without special tools)remove the original wheels and replace with Wheels of the desired type.Thus the dealer is not required to have a stock of different wheel hubconstructions and is relieved of the labor and expense of removing thevarious parts before referred to.

So alsothe present invention is a. great advantage to the owner orprospective owner because he can get immediate delivery of' anautomobile with the particular type of wheel equipment desired.Furthermore, if at any time he should break a Wheel and another one of-that t pe is not in stock at the dealers a'vvheel some other type canproposed be substituted at least temporarily. Thus an accident is notlikely to leave the motorist stranded even though he be in some ratherremote place.

Many other advantages will appear to those skilled in this art.

I claim as my invention il. In a delnountable 'wheel construction, adriving axle, a wheel receiving flanged hub rigidly secured to thedriving axle in operative relation, said wheel receiving hub beingformed for the reception of a plurality of types of demountableautomobile wheels having hub portions formed differently -from eachother but all complementary to the said wheel receiving hub, whereby onetype of wheel may be changed for another without disturbing vtheoperative relation of the wheel receiving hub on its axle.

2. Ina demountable Wheel construction, an axle, a wheel receivingintegrally flanged hub secured to the axle in operative relation, saidintegral flange having bolt openings, said wheel receiving hub beingformed for the receptionof a plurality of types of de mountableautomobile Wheels having hub portions formed differently from each otherbut all complementary to said wheel receiv.

ing hub and having bolt openings to register with the bolt openings inthe integral flanged hub, whereby any of said types of' wheels may bemount-ed on or deniounted from the wheel receivingl hub withoutdisturbing the operative relation of the Wheel receiving'hub on itsaxle.

3. In a demountable wheel (.fonstriuftion,

a driving axle, .a wheel receiving integrally flanged hub formed with anabbreviated wheel centering portion and rigidly secured to the drivingaxle in operative relation, said integral flange having bolt openings,said wheel receiving hub being formed -for the reception of a pluralityof types of demountable automobile Wheelshaving central hub portionsformed differently fronreaeh other but all complementary to said Wheelreceiving huband havingbolt openings to register with the bolt openingsin the integral flanged'hub, whereby any of said types of wheels may bemounted on or demounted trom the wheel receiving hub without disturbingthe operative relation of the Wheel I receiving hub on itskaxle.

(l. In a deniountable wheel construction, an axle, a wheel receivingintegrally flanged hub formed with an abbreviated wheel centeringportion and secured to the axle in operative relation, said integralflange having bolt openings, said wheel receivingr hub being formed forthe reception of a plurality ot types of demouutable automobile wheelshaving hub portions within the bolt circle formed differently from eachother but all complementary to said wheel receiving hub and having boltopenings to register with the bolt openings in the integral flanged hub,bolts operable from the out side tosecure any of the different types ofwheels to the in tegral fiange of the Wheel receiving 'hub whereby anyof said types of Wheels may be mounted on ordemounted from the wheelreceiving hub without disturbing the operative relation ot the Wheelreceiving hub on its axle.

5. In a demountable wheel construction, an axle, a wheel receivingintegrally flanged hub secured to the axle in operative relation, saidwheel receiving huh being formed for the reception of a plurality oftypes of demountable automobile wheels having ccntral hub portionsformed differently from each other but all complementary to said wheelreceiving hub and having bolt. open# ings, saidl hub having cooperating"means carried by the flange to register with the bolt openings inthewheels, fastening de vices operable from the outside to secure any ofthe difl'erent types of wheels to said integral flange whereby any ot'said types of wheels may be mounted on or demounted .trom the wheelreceiving hub without disturbing the operative relation of the wheelreceiving hub on its axle.

In testilnony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 30th day ofOctober, 1928.

ERLE K. BAKER.

